Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-04-01

on the first day of their ride. Then
while they slept at the stage ranch he
had made friends first with squaw man
(white) then with a squaw, next with
hospitable buck. These had fed and
lodged him, and in the end received him
into their family. The terms of this
treaty were being ratified when Derby
rode along the second time. If Brissaye's
hosts suspected that he was the deserter
the soldiers were after they showed no
signs of it.
That was in the early autumn. The
winter went by monotonorlsly under its
heavy fall of snow. The hunting season
opened as soon as the snow began to
melt, and Derby went on three days
hunt from the fort with the first party
that was made up. They went into
camp in as marked position as they
could find in that monotonous if fascinat-
ing country. For fascination there is
undoubtedly in the vast grand sweep of
sky and land of the same kind that holds
one by the boundless sea. Derby strolled
off by himself presently with his gun.
Don't lose yourself. some one called
out to him.
ANO httIStls iit btN anu, III
truth. it struck him as the simplest thing
in the world to return to the camp by the
way he had come. He wandered on and
on, the serene uniformity of billowy plain
confirming this impression by deceiving
him as to the distance he had traversed.
1t was only when he began to feel hungry
that he looked at his watch and saw that
he had been gone three hours. resting and
walking. Then he began to retrace his
steps, and then he found that he had alb
solutely lost his bearings. After two
more hours Of wandering he dropped
down exhausted. He had made no pro-
gress. He had been wandering round and
round in circle.
1t began to he late in the afternoon, and
it began to be bitterly cold. Derby rea
lied his situation intensely. He for whom
life was SO fair, so sweet. SO lovely-he,
young, strong. blessed. before the light of
another day might be lying frozen stiff
on these peaceful, treacherous soltudes
or else torn limb from limb by wild beasts
His friends, his sister, his mother, his
love-was all this over for him: "Do
you see this?-oh God!' he cried, with
Laertes.
But in spite of growing exhaustion he
kept moving. and thus he came all at
once upon tragedy that had been there
before him. In a little hillock from
which the snow had melted during the
warm sun of the preceding day. all but a
feathery white outline about the prone
figure, lay "A man wrapped in AN Indians
blanket. His composed. regularly beau
t,f,,1 lii Jn,.ly H., ,,,;,rh+
belonged to an antique statue. The blan-
ket was huddled about his head it was
only when Derby pushed it aside that he
became aware that the hair of the
man before him was not that of one of
his own race. And then he recognized
him: then he saw that he had found,
thus strangely. the secretary of the
English bishop at Old Point Comfort
At first he thought he was dead, but
the eyelids quivered ever SO slightly pres
entity, as Robert knelt beside the poor fell
low and chafed the stony hands in his
impulsive, warmhearted way. Yes, he
had seen the chap before, of course, at
the Hygeia that time; but what was he
doing in this Indian toggery! Brssaye
moved feebly, and turned his head away
by another association. Where, besides,
had he seen the curly wool. the back of
that shapely head and neck? Still chatting
Brissaye's hand, and presently pouring
down his throat the last few drops of
whisky that remained in his flask, the as
ISOLATION Of ideas strengthened and per-
vaded him. This was the black white
man he had noticed in the tepee when he
had searched it for the deserter from the
fort on his return route. There was some
thing in the desperate patience of the face
before him which stirred the very depths
of Roberts nature. Through what great
straits had this poor soul come to this last
strait of all? Slowly Brissayes mournful
eyes Enclosed, looked at Robert, and knew
him. 1t was the final blow; he gazed
hunted creature at bay. You're all
right, said Robert, encouragingly, be-
ginning to pull off his overcoat to give to
the other. keep up your pluck. I've
strayed off from my party, but they Ii
come up with us presently, and look out
for us BOTH"
But, AS he spoke, the deadly, lonely
stiffness was broken by an ominous sound
the bowling Of wolf. He listened
keenly, realized the voice of the foe, and
met the emergency, i've come to the
end of my rope" he said to himself
TRANQUILITY, as he shouldered his rifle. He
had but three cartridges left, but he fired
one. JOY! his shot was answered. He
fired again unhesitatingly, and his friends
We're close at hand. His last discharge
brought them to him before night S
solemn shadows had closed in on him and
his companion. Robert Derby was not
one of those on whom falls the shadow of
an early doom.
He had dropped on his knees again be-
side Brissaye as soon as he was assured
that he was rescued. But Leonce was
far away. Death the comforter, Death
the savior, had come to him, and led him
into the safe and blessed haven that
awaits at last inevitably all weary hearts.
He lay crowned and mantled in the great
final dignity when the party of soldiers
stood about him with explanations of
pity and surprise. But no one ecosnized
him then or afterward as the dpsprter of